The initial award of Battle Honours to units which participated in the major combat phase of operations in Iraq has been announced by the Ministry of Defence following approval by Her Majesty the Queen.

Battle Honours are recommended by the Ministry of Defence Service Honours Committee. They represent official acknowledgement of the part played in a successful campaign or engagement by ships, units and squadrons. They serve as a permanent record of achievement and are intended to foster esprit de corps. They also encourage service personnel to take a personal interest in the operational history of their ship or squadron and units of the same name that may have distinguished themselves in the past.

The Honours relate to operations between 19 March and 30 April, 2003. The following Royal Navy ships and Naval Air Squadrons have been awarded the Battle Honour 'AL FAW 2003':

HMS OCEAN
HMS SANDOWN
HMS ARK ROYAL
HMS LEDBURY
HMS BLYTH
HMS ROEBUCK
HMS BROCKLESBY
No 845 Naval Air Squadron
HMS BANGOR
No 847 Naval Air Squadron

Royal Marine units participating have not been awarded a separate Battle Honour, as by tradition and historical precedent, 'Gibraltar' remains the only honour held by the Royal Marines.

The main effort of the Royal Navy during Operation Telic was focussed on the Al Faw peninsula and surrounding waters encompassing a major airborne amphibious assault, port entry and subsequent maintenance of sea lines of communication and support to follow-on operations in the vicinity. This activity has been recognised by the award of the Battle Honour "AL FAW 2003". The following units met the necessary criteria for this award:

845 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons: Both met the criteria for 'successful war service' and those laid down for 'combined operations' against significant enemy resistance. 845 NAS provided tactical mobility and combat support for every unit of 3 Cdo Brigade in the area of operations, while the Lynx and Gazelle aircraft of 847 NAS provided armed aviation patrols to the Brigade, flying some 160 combat missions against enemy positions. They regularly came under sustained and heavy fire from small arms, mortars and tanks. After the amphibious assault, the squadron moved forward to support 40 Cdo's assault on Abu Al Khasib. In the Operational Honours for Op Telic, the squadrons were awarded 1 MBE, 1DFC, 2 MiD, and 2 QCVS.

HM Ships Ocean and Ark Royal: Merit the award for launching 845 and 847 Naval Air Squadrons as part of the amphibious assault against the shore. On such occasions it is usual for the aircraft carrier also to receive the award, but if the actual action takes place at a distance from the carriers, the escorting ships will not be eligible for the award. Between them, personnel in the two ships were awarded 1 CBE, 1 OBE, 2 MBE, 1QGM, and 5 QCVS.